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Anthony Johnson, one of five Indiana Pacers charged with misdemeanor assault and battery after the Nov. 19 brawl with fans during a game against the Detroit Pistons, is expected in district court in Rochester Hills, Mich., today for jury selection.

Johnson's trial is expected to start next week.

Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson also are charged and will have pretrial hearings Sept. 23. A fifth Pacer, David Harrison, had his pretrial moved from Monday to early October, attorney Walter Piszczatowski said. Piszczatowski said Thursday that he hopes to have the pretrial hearing done before the Pacers open training camp Oct. 4.

Artest, O'Neal and Jackson will go before Judge Julie Nicholson on Sept. 23. Formal charges are given, a plea can be entered and trial dates could be set during the pretrial.

The players may plead guilty, but that's unlikely because admitting guilt could be used in a civil lawsuit.

The penalty for each case is 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.

The brawl started when Artest went into the stands after a fan threw a beer cup on him at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Re: AJ's up first for court...

Re: AJ's up first for court...

If basketball fandom is enough to bias our country's judicial system, then our nation has bigger problems then terrorism, polution, a declining education system, and a pollarized body politic.

Isn't it incredible that this issue still isn't completely settled? I mean, I knew our court system could be slow but strung through the timeline of a basketball season, it really seems like its moving like molasses

Re: AJ's up first for court...

So they'll all plead "No contest" and pay the max fine, along with a (tax-deductible) charitable contribution to Detroit NPOs.

Is that enough?

Now that AJ has pleaded No Contest I am curious as to what the penalty will be. If the judges are all Pistons fans (and don't care about what is true and just) they will all get 90+ day sentences and $500 fine.

Indiana Pacers point guard Anthony Johnson pleaded no contest to a count of misdemeanor assault and battery this morning in district court in Rochester Hills, Mich., stemming from last season’s brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.

Johnson, who was scheduled for a jury selection today, will have a sentencing hearing Oct. 7, three days after the Pacers open camp. He can be sentenced up to 93 days in jail and fine $500.

Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal, who also are being charged, will have their pretrial hearings Sept. 23. A fifth Pacer charged, David Harrison, had his pretrial moved from Monday to early October, his attorney, Walter Piszczatowski said Thursday night.

The brawl started when Artest went into the stands after a fan threw a beer cup on him at the Palace of Auburn Hills

Re: AJ's up first for court...

Maybe I've said this before, sorry if you remember it.
Several years ago I spent 3 weeks in Tokyo. While there, a man was accused of a white collar crime. He was arrested, tried, convicted, sentenced, and had started doing his time during the 3 weeks I was there.

I don't think any of those guys deserve 90 days, but if they get it, let's do it now and get it over with and come back at the all-star break.

Why do I have this foreboding that Ron will not get a suspended sentence?